You Have Been Defended [EN]: Chapter 196

“Every time we broadcast, viewers say things like, ‘What are you going to broadcast next week? Everything that could come out has already come out. Aren’t you just rehashing old stuff?’ We have so many viewers who worry about our content for us.”

“Honestly, we worry about that too. Because we only broadcast once a week, and each time, we dig up and broadcast every single fact confirmed up to that day. So, we can’t help but think, ‘Oh, what are we going to broadcast next week?'”

“That’s right. But our Myunghwa Pharmaceuticals is different. It’s like a never-ending spring. They keep throwing us new stuff so our broadcast doesn’t fail. Everyone, if you’re an internet broadcaster and you’re always worried about content, just sell Antrozol Alpha. The content never runs out. Hehehe.”

The atmosphere of the broadcast was good today as well.

Thanks to the increasing number of viewers and the reporters who were busy writing down the content every time we turned on the broadcast, the two of us tirelessly digested more content than was written in the original script.

It was basic to laugh and chat non-stop so that the audio wouldn’t be empty, and viewers who were excited frequently donated balloon tips [virtual gifts that can be converted to real money].

The amount of balloon tips received so far was over ten million won [approximately $7,500 USD], which was an unexpected profit since we didn’t start with money in mind in the first place.

Although we are still in the red when we consider the monthly studio rent and maintenance fees, Kim Jung-woo’s salary, and Choi Jong-hyun and Jo Bong-joon’s officetel [a type of multi-purpose building containing residential and commercial units] rent.

[YogurtLady: Tell us the story about Jonghyun hyung appearing on the news LOL]

When one viewer brought up the topic, everyone started talking about Choi Jong-hyun’s appearance on News9.

Unlike Choi Jong-hyun, who was happily watching the chat, Jo Bong-joon waved his hand in disgust.

“Hey. We’re not allowed to mention the story of Jonghyun hyung [older brother or male friend] appearing on News9 on our broadcast.”

[SellItAll: Ah, why LOL

PencilEraserDust: I’m curious –]

“Oh, why are you doing this? The viewers must be curious. Bongjoon also appeared on the radio and went to the prosecutor’s office and told stories, so why can’t I? This, this is being selfish.”

[PyeongyangNoodles: That’s right!!!!!]

“No, there’s a reason why I’m banning it, guys. It’s been almost a week since hyung appeared on the news, right? Damn, he talks about the story of appearing on the news all day long. When I actually watched it, he only appeared for a little over ten minutes. Today, on the way to the studio, I heard the story of appearing on the news again, and my ears were bleeding.”

Jo Bong-joon was fed up, but he couldn’t quell the reaction of the people who wanted to hear the story.

“Ah, then I’ll take a break while Jonghyun hyung tells his story. Call?”

You might think Jo Bong-joon is overreacting, but I actually understood.

This was because Choi Jong-hyun was in a good mood for days, intoxicated by the fact that he appeared on News9 and said everything he wanted to say without trembling.

Even when phone calls poured in from acquaintances, he answered them all without showing any annoyance and talked to them for a long time, telling them all the stories.

Because of that, Jo Bong-joon, who was sharing a room with him, almost had blood coming out of his ears.

“Bongjoon, come back! Bongjoon! Sniffle. Bongjoon!”

And after 20 minutes, Choi Jong-hyun started calling for Jo Bong-joon in a desperate voice from the studio.

The time is now 8 o’clock.

Usually, broadcasts last about four hours, and the peak time when most people come in is 8 o’clock.

Therefore, it is right to spend time chatting and gossiping until 8 o’clock.

Now that the chat is over, it’s time to get to the point.

“Okay, everyone. We have prepared a very interesting story today. PD-nim [Production Director], put up the screen.”

Kim Jung-woo, who has been promoted from editor to PD on his own, put up the graphic screen that we had prepared for several days.

“Today’s topic: ”

[TonkatsuMaster: Based on the characteristics of this broadcast, I’ll spoil it in advance. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and Myunghwa Pharmaceuticals are related.

GlassesGuy: Oh, someone who knows this broadcast well LOLOLOLOL]

“Okay, everyone. In the first part of the broadcast, we briefly summarized the events that happened during the week. Myunghwa Pharmaceuticals denied the evidence we released. They said the recordings were fabricated and that they had no dealings with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. In response, we visited a voice analysis expert with the News9 reporting team last week and revealed that the voice in the recording was that of Kim Hyung-joong, CEO of Myunghwa Pharmaceuticals. Then, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety issued an emergency announcement. They said they didn’t know why Kim Hyung-joong said that, and that they fairly followed the Antrozol Alpha approval process by applying the same procedures as other drugs. After that, there was no response. That’s the overall timeline so far.”

With Jo Bong-joon’s signal, Kim Jung-woo moved the screen.

“What we need to pay attention to here is the procedure by which the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety grants approval. When the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety approves a drug, it convenes the Central Pharmaceutical Affairs Review Committee and holds several meetings. At those meetings, they nitpick, saying things like, ‘This drug might have this problem, that problem,’ and check whether it’s really okay to approve it.”

“And the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety directly said that this process was also applied to Antrozol Alpha. But it’s strange, isn’t it? The committee members aren’t all stupid or crazy. Why did they approve this problematic drug?”

[WantToEatSauries: Did Myunghwa Pharmaceuticals bribe the committee members? LOLOLOL]

“Sauries is right. Hey, Sauries has been getting the answers right from the start. Amazing, really. Everyone, let’s give him a round of applause.”

[Scissorhands: Tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk

[PorkBellyBBQ: LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

MyStockIsToiletPaper: LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

Jonghyun’sWig: LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL]

“Why are you clicking your tongue when I told you to clap?”

“Hyung [older brother or male friend], it’s ‘clap clap,’ not ‘tsk tsk.’ Seriously, stop acting like an old man.”

Jo Bong-joon shook his head and checked the newly updated screen.

Then, he picked up the tablet pen, underlined the important phrases on the screen, and began to explain slowly.

“According to the data we’ve obtained, most of the members of the committee that approved Antrozol Alpha are directly or indirectly connected to Myunghwa Pharmaceuticals. In fact, although I said Sauries was right, to be precise, it might not be outright bribery. It could just be that they’ve known each other for a long time, so they just said, ‘Please take care of this,’ and sent a box of apples [a common Korean gift] . Or bought the wife a mink coat, something like that.”

“That’s bribery, what else would it be.”

“Exactly. Hehe. Okay, these are the members of the committee. I’ll brief you on each one. This is Lee Chan-sung. He’s the brother-in-law of the CEO of Myunghwa Pharmaceuticals. So, it goes like this. ‘Brother-in-law, we have a drug coming out this time. It’s a really good drug. Please help us get through the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety approval process, okay? This is, ahem, I think it’s been a while since I gave you pocket money, so I prepared something. Hehe. Oh, oh, don’t misunderstand. It has nothing to do with our drug, I’m just giving it to you as pocket money. What do you mean, why is the pocket money tens of millions of won [Korean currency]? Aish, don’t say that and just use it quietly. Shh shh.’ So, Lee Chan-sung immediately agreed to it, saying, ‘Ah, as expected of my brother-in-law. It must be a good drug, as he says.’ And then he approved it.”

[SmurfShorts: LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL that role-playing is crazy

GetTrozoL: LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL Lee Chan-sung agreed to it LOLOLOLOLOLOL]

“And then, Jang Dae-soo. He’s a college classmate of the CEO of Myunghwa Pharmaceuticals. He graduated from A University’s Department of Biotechnology with the CEO of Myunghwa Pharmaceuticals and spent a long time together in the graduate school lab as close friends.”

In that way, the ties of blood, school, and region between a total of six committee members and Myunghwa Pharmaceuticals were introduced.

And, of course, that fact was immediately uploaded as an internet article and began to heat up the portal sites [major Korean websites].

“This isn’t the end. Now, an important issue comes up. Here, among the committee members, there is a person named Ji Han-cheol. This person. How is this person related?”

[AboveSaeOreul: Hancheol probably got bribed because he can’t keep being on the committee, so he took money to do Hancheol business LOL

Scissorhands: Ugh, I’m gonna throw up, ew ew ew

AboveSaeOreum: I’m having fun LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL]

“Ji Han-cheol is a shareholder who owns a large amount of Myunghwa Pharmaceutical’s stock. He owns about 0.1%. Even if it’s a tiny company that hasn’t been listed for long, owning 0.1% is really huge.”

[MyStockIsToiletPaper: What the fuck? He owns stock???? Fucking hell, he made the stock he owns skyrocket with his own hands, isn’t that a crime? Some people save every penny and invest in stocks, but they become beggars and now they have to watch their wife’s eyes because they can’t even buy a pack of cigarettes, but that son of a bitch!!!!!!!]

“Mr. Piece. First of all, calm down. As you said, it’s a matter that violates the law. It’s an unfair trading act.”

“Unfair trading in the stock market, yes, is punishable by up to life imprisonment. A fine of five times the profit or loss avoided due to stock trading is imposed. It’s really messed up, right? I don’t know exactly when Ji Han-cheol bought the stock, but what’s certain is that he bought it before the Antrozol Alpha approval, and he still owns it now. Of course, it has become toilet paper now [worthless] , but at that time, he directly approved the drug, and Myunghwa Pharmaceutical’s stock skyrocketed, so I think he will be punished enough.”

“And below that, Kim Jin-hyung and Lee Bo-yeon are also found to have Myunghwa Pharmaceutical’s stock. Like Ji Han-cheol mentioned above, they had it before the Antrozol Alpha approval. I don’t know if they have sold it now.”

“I’m really curious how several people have stocks like they planned it.”

At Choi Jong-hyun’s words, Jo Bong-joon seemed to be contemplating for a moment, then opened his mouth, slightly lowering his voice.

“This is just speculation. I would appreciate it if you all understand that it is nothing more than speculation and that it is absolutely not prejudging the truth. I’m just bringing up one possible scenario.”

[Tazza: LOLOLOLOLOLOL Bongjoon got sued once, so he’s laying the groundwork like crazy because he doesn’t want to get sued again]

“I got caught, damn it. Anyway, what I’ve been thinking is… Most of those people are almost all related by school ties, blood ties, and regional ties. And only three people hold stocks. But Ji Han-cheol doesn’t seem like it because he has quite a lot of stock, in my opinion. I think the other two were really bribed.”

“Bribed?”

“Yes. ‘We’ll give you some stock, so please take care of us,’ something like that, ah, haha. Well, you know, something like that.”

Jo Bong-joon waved his hand wildly at the camera for no reason and said.

“Okay, this is just a novel. Just my thoughts. I want you to know for sure that it’s not the absolute truth. Just speculation. It’s speculation.”

[MessibalTowel: So, in the end, only 3 people on that committee have nothing to do with Myunghwa Pharmaceuticals LOLOLOL The world is so dirty

HowToAvoidTheSun: But you guys aren’t investigative agencies, so how do you know if they have stocks or not? Isn’t this all a lie?]

“I received a tip. And as you know, has there been a lie among the evidence we have presented so far? There hasn’t been any. What we are constantly arguing now is that we want the national institution to come forward. National institutions can figure all this out, right? So, I hope they will come forward and tell us whether what we are saying is a lie or not, and reveal the truth. More than anyone else.”

Jo Bong-joon spoke quickly in a slightly agitated voice without taking a breath.

Then, the viewer who kept picking on him was also buried in the criticism of other viewers and did not speak any further.

“Okay, let’s summarize. As a result of our confirmation, most of the members of this Central Pharmaceutical Affairs Review Committee were closely related to Myunghwa Pharmaceuticals. And this committee consists of people recommended by the Pharmaceutical Affairs Committee and people appointed by the head of the Food and Drug Administration. However, among the members, only 3 people were not related to Myunghwa Pharmaceuticals. Even those members were people recommended by the Pharmaceutical Affairs Committee. Then, I will ask the Food and Drug Administration once again. Has the Food and Drug Administration really not had any dealings with Myunghwa Pharmaceuticals? In this situation, if you claim that you have not had any dealings without any evidence, who can believe it? It seems like you are going to say that it is a coincidence that people related to Myunghwa Pharmaceuticals happened to be on the committee… Then why didn’t the committee members apply for recusal [removing oneself from proceedings because of conflict of interest]?”

“Although it’s late, admit that there was something wrong with Myunghwa Pharmaceutical’s Antrozol Alpha approval stage. And cancel the approval. It’s not difficult. Antrozol Alpha is a drug that kills people. You said in the recent emergency announcement that you would do your best to promote national health, but I believe you will not release a drug that kills people into the world.”

“Okay, then I’ll end the broadcast here. Thank you.”